DAPITAN CITY, Philippines—Just like most treasures, this city, with its quiet streets and tree-shaded groves leading to sloping beaches, hides a trove of Filipino heritage and history.

The history of this city spans over 700 years, from the arrival of the first native Subanon settlers who were soon joined by the Boholanos, to the coming of Spaniards and later the Americans. In the 1700s, this small town was under the rule of Spanish government. In 1892, it became the home of exiled hero Dr. Jose Rizal, until his departure in 1896.

In this shrine city, the nation’s hero’s memory was celebrated by thousands of foreign and local tourists who recalled his contributions in a four-day festival that started on Dec. 27, culminating on the day of his death, Dec. 30.

Looking back

Dubbed as Handuraw, a local term for flashback or looking back, it is the third celebration of Dapitan’s significant role in the country’s history. Rizal spent the part of his best years here, leaving behind contributions that have continued to describe the city imbued by history, according to local experts.

A series of activities such as tree planting, fashion show, painting, sculpture, and book launching, reminded people of looking back to the past. Many relearn the teachings and the values of Rizal.

Handuraw unfolds the footprints left by the vanishing civilization that Dapitan has in the historic past.

“The traces that are left behind by the fading era are carefully preserved in the deep niches of Handuraw for the coming generation to know and understand the bridge that connects the past to the present,” Mayor Dominador Jalosjos said.

Rizal’s lessons

“It is through deeper understanding of the life and works of this man (Rizal) that we can also value our being Filipinos as well as improve the well being of our community,” said councilor Apple Marie Agolong.

“We hope that our annual festival will remind our people that only by looking back to our past we can move on to our future,” she added.

As part of the festivities, about 100 boats of fishermen coming from coastal villages sailed the Dapitan bay for the fluvial parade.

“It was Rizal who taught us before about fishing,” Agolong said.

Rizal, the father of the movement for independence from Spain, was publicly executed by a Spanish firing squad not in their usual method of garroting.

Aside from the enchanting Dakak Park and Beach Resort and the historic Rizal Shrine which are among country’s favorite tourist destinations, the city can now boast of a world class commercial center.

Commercial era

Gloria de Dapitan, which is situated at Sunset Boulevard, is a one-of-its kind three hectare commercial complex. It is just 12 kilometers from the airport, six kilometers from the seaport, and 14 kilometers from the urban center of the city. It is just 20 minutes from the Dakak Beach Resort, 10 minutes from Rizal Shrine and eight hours of bus ride from Cagayan de Oro City.

“According to the Philippine Chamber of Commerce, they visualize our city as the next Bohol. In other words, it will now be the one of the premier tourist destinations in the country,” Gloria de Dapitan vice president Dindo Ilagan told the Inquirer.

“By March this year, we will open the first and only amusement park outside Metro Manila—the Gloria’s Fantazy Land. We will have 18 major rides. Most of these are imported. One of the major rides we have is the roller coaster which we bought from California, USA,” he added.

Amusement park

Miguel Cintora, an American consultant who is in charge of issuing certificates for all major rides in Califonia, went over here to assemble and to train the people regarding ride safety of Dapitan’s P200-million worth amusement park.

“Hindi ’to perya-perya. We have three kinds of amusement rides,” Ilagan said.

“Tourist arrivals in Dapitan are steadily increasing now that it is being known a peaceful part of Mindanao. There were no crimes reported so there’s confidence among our foreign tourists,” Ilagan added.

But while officials are promoting the city, Prof. Pedro Walpole, executive director of Ateneo de Manila Environmental Science for Social Change, cited the riches of Dapitan and how the people are losing them.

Preserving Dapitan

“Everything is being thrown into the sea and you get more sedimentation which will create more flooding. Today, the sea is getting angry and it is losing all its fish. Where will the livelihood of the people go?” he added.

“You cannot preserve Dapitan as in preserve as a museum. You have to be alive … to keep things alive. Part of the Handuraw activity is to look back in order to go forward,” Walpole noted.

Some officials here have expressed interest in developing land use scheme as part of effort to preserve the country’s only Rizal Shrine, Walpole said.

The city recently launched a project where they will pay 50 cents for every banana tree planted by children.